Composing machine



y 1960 P. JEAN-BAPTISTE ASTIER 2,936,831

COMPOSING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Ma rch 22, 1957 y 1960 P.JEAN-BAPTISTE ASTIER 2,936,831-

COMPOSING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Shoot 2 Filed March 22, 1957 Avranor UN /erreJean-flap/lls/e 457%? gilt; i Lomcs aw fl/forny May 17, 1960 P.JEAN-BAPTISTE ASTIER 2,936,331

COMPOSING MACHINE Filed March 22, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 *(mu. (l-musflfforney United States Patent w 7 2,936,831 I I f COMPOSING MACHINE IPierre Jean-Baptiste Astier, Paris, France i Application March 22, 1957,Serial No. 647,907 Claims priority, application France October 17, 19562 Claims. (Cl. 164-112) are arranged in a manner like the keys of anordinary Recording on a paper tape during the normal running of thecomposingmachin'e.

typewriter. To the applicants, knowledge, no machine 4 existsforpunching thepaper tape ofwhich the keyboard is an integral reproductionof the keyboard of the com- 'posing machine itself. 7 7

Existing punching apparatuses possess an obvious disadvantage owing tothe fact that the composing machine operator, being accustomed to 1 thearrangement of the keys of his keyboard, is obliged to becomeacquaintedwith the keyboard of the paper'tape punching machine. Otherwise theservices of a typist have to be obtained, whois acquainted with thekeyboard of an ordinary typewriter, which implies that two operatorsare'required.

The present invention obviates these disadvantages and provides akeyboard of the typeexistingon a composing machine capable of punching apaper tape and at the same time playing its usual part in the composingmachine. The improved keyboard according to the invention can also beutilized independently from the composing machine itself; owing to theconventional arrangements of its keys, it is not necessary to employ anoperator other than the one alreadyconversant'with the composingmachine. 7

I According to another object of the invention, the conventionalkeyboard of a composing machine comprises additional members working insuch manner that when a. key is depressed by the operator, punchingoccurs according to a given code, on the tape, and a matrix is releasedfrom the magazine, which occurs in the convenin facts? the working speedon the improved keyboardaccording to the invention is at least equal tothat .which it is possible to reach on the perforator keyboard of thetype known at present. If work is effected with a 7-hole code and with akeyboardaccording to the invention used as perforator only,"independently from the composing machine, there is-a 'possibility ofgaining speed by the elimination of the keys corresponding toshift andunshift. I

Thc signal bringing about the rise of the assembling elevator isobtained on the paper tape according to a suitable code. v

"The keysof the keyboard are very sensitive and the operator acts onthese; keys in the same manner as he "would on the keyboardof thecomposing machine itself. 4 The possibility of utilizing the spare magaznes and *any. additional machine control member.

The possibility'of checking the composition on the notches of thematrices. v T

Other advantages and features of the invention will be more clearlybrought. out by the ensuing description read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which: yjFi'gure lis a perspective view of oneof the keys of the keyboardof a composing machine co-operating with theperforator according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a partial plan view corresponding to Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is an explanatory diagram of the movement of one ofthe membersof Figure 1.

Figures 4a, 4b are elevational views of the counterweights of aconventional keyboard of a composing machine, these counterweights beingaltered so as to be applicable to the improved keyboard according to theinvention, said counterweights being shown in two diiferent positions. Y1 Figures 5 and 6 are alternative embodiments of members of Figure 2. oo Figure 7 is a diagrammatical view in perspective of the controlcircuit of the electro-magnet of Figure 1, vcalled synchronizationcircuit. Y

With reference to these drawings, Figure 1 shows in perspective, a keyof a conventional keyboard of a composing machine cooperating with'theperforator according to the invention. Thereferences A designate theconventional counterweights or so called key bars that are already foundon a conventionalkeyboard and which 'are actuated by the lever arms 416hinged at428 andconnected toeach key 417 of the keyboard. On =aconventionalkeyboard c'omprising90 keys,-these counterweights number 91i;e. plus one counterweight corresponding to space bar. Thesecounterweights-A are notched or banked as usual at B (key side);moreover, on the opposite side to these notches 01' banks B, theycomprise a series of notches C, being for example seven in number. Thisnotching differs from one counterweight to another.

It is pointed out that the shape of these-notches C, being differentfrom one key' to another, enables, as will be seen hereinafter, aspecial perforation to be obtained on a paper tape according to a codecorresponding to each key under consideration. Y Opposite to each notchC of the counterweights A there is a series of rods or bars (seven innumber in the drawings) so mounted asto effect the oscillating movementof rods 1, another rod 1b (notseen in the drawing) is also provided. 7

In Figure 3, O1, O2, O3, 04 show the hinging points having the samereference numerals in Figure 1-; O1O2, O3O4 indicate the connectionsbetween these hinging points. Each bar 1 may thus make an oscillatingmovement shown by the arrows f and f It will easily be understood thatif a part 3a (shown in dotted lines in Figure 3) abuts at any pointalong the bar 1, the oscillating movement of this bar will be prevented.Onlythe bars 1a and 1b can' freely pivot without hindrance at any timeof their displacement. This displacement takes place in the same way-asthat of the bars 1. The bars 14 and 1bonly-lr'nake the end perforationson a tape, these end perforationsserving to guide the tape inits'feeding system.

The description given below concerns the actuation of one or morerods 1including the rods 1a and 1b and. the perforation of a paper tape P.

g 9 (Fig. 2) in the direction of the arrow Fa; each of these arms 7 iscapable of acting through the intermediary of a shoulder It) on aratchet device 11 rotatably mounted about 12 and acting against a spring13. The end of each arm 7 is capable of acting on rollers 14, 15, 16,and 17 mounted on a segment gear 18 mounted on a shaft 182:, said gearbeing adapted to mesh with a toothed wheel 19. The operation of thisgear system 18-19 is described below. i n Each of the rods 1, in itsinitial position, abuts against the end of a flap 20, hinged at 21, theside 23 of this flap abutting against a shoulder 24 of apart 25 hingedat 26 and capable of being attracted by an electro-rnagnet E1. The flap20 is moreover hin'gedly connected by a bar 20;: to a second flap 27hingedat 28 and 29 whose function will be explained below. The abovementioned device as a unit is capable of acting on a rod 30 guided at 31and 32 acting by its lowerend on a punch 33 actingon the tape moving inthe slot 34 of the device 35 guiding the tape. The rod 30 always acts ona lever system generally designated by the reference numeral 36 actingagainst a spring 37, this device 36 also serving to move the tapeforward. This feed device may be of any conventional type such as a pawland ratchet wheel device 0- The device described above operates in thefollowing manner: l

When a key of the keyboard of the composing machine is depressed, theelectro-magnet E1 is excitedas will be seen below. The part 25 isattracted ingt'he direction of the arrow F2 and the bars 1 correspondingto the key depressed, move in the direction of the arrow "F1 being urgedby their spring 2 provided that these bars are opposite a notch C of thecounterweight A. At the time of this movement the flap 20 pivots about21 in the direction of the arrowFS, its side23 no longer abutting ontheshoulder, 24; the arm 7,through the intermediary of its shoulder ,10,acts on the latch 11 in the direction of the .arrow F4, said latchabutting initially on the roller 16; by continuing its movement, the arm7 acts on the roller 14 and compels the corresponding gear or gears 18loosely mounted ontheir shaft 18a to rotate in the direction of thearrow F5 thus compelling the segment S1 to mesh with the gear 19 whichconstantly rotates about the shaft 19a; the rotatory movement of thisshaft being derived from any suitable device (not shown) (independentmotor, power take-01f from the composing machine itself, etc.).

When the gear. ,18'rotates in the direction of the arrow F5, saidrotation being obtained from 19, the roller 15 strikesthe rod '30, andthus causes the punching of the tape by means of the punch or punches33. 7

Moreover, the roller 14 acts on the flap 27 which, during the pivotingof the flap 20 in the direction of the arrow F3, has moved in thedirection of the arrow F6 and restores this flap to its initialposition. In returning to its initial position, the flap 20 brings therod or rods 1 also into their initial position as well as the latch 11;each corresponding gear 18 has, during these displacements, made 7 madeof suitable materials. This assemblyrmay alsobe formed as p in the caseof, Figure 6 by toothed segments of currenttype for 18 and by a gear 19mounted Ton a rubber ring 19b .for example. V I v The preferred form ofembodiment oftlieinvention is that shown in Figure 2 in which each gear18 is afiexible gear obtained "by cutting outcircular slots in acircular plate, from the periphery thereof, so as'to form resilientsegments.

The electro-magnetic control of the device described above with a viewto synchronising the operation of the machine, is shown in Figure 7; inthis figure there has been shown one or" the counterweightsAco-operating with a key (not shown) of the composing machine, each ofthese counterweights A being adapted to act directly on a flap 38 whichcan pivot about a shaft 39; a counterweight 40 which is, for example,adjustable along a rod 40a is provided for balancing said flap.Moreover, this flap comprises two conductor blades 41 and 42 00-operating with two electric contacts 43 and 44. The contact 43 isconnected to one of the. terminals A of a source of current supply; theblade 42 is connected to the same terminal A The contact 44 is connectedto a contact 45 placed opposite a contact 46'conn-ected to theelectro-rnagnet E1. This contact 46 is carried by a lever arm 47 hingedat 48, urged by a spring 49 in the direction of Pb and carrying a pawl50 at its end impelled by a spring 51 and cooperating with a ratchetwheel 52 which can be rotatably driven by means of an electromagneticclutch 53 (shown diagrammatically), for example, by a worm-gear system54-55 (the worm being continuously rotated). The electro-magnetic clutchis connected, on the one hand, to the plate 41, and on the other hand tothe terminal B1 of the source of current. T his terminal B1 is itselfconnected to the electro-magnet E1.

The device described above operatesin manner: 7

The contact 45-46 being closed, when one of the counterweights A isimpelled upwards in the direction of C (by depressing a key on thekeyboard, not shown), its upper shoulder C causes the flap 38 to swingin the direction of the arrow C the blades 41 and 42 bear on thecontacts 43 and 44. The electro-magnetic clutch device 53 is 'energize dand the ratchet wheel caused to the following rotate. The electro-magnetE1 is energized and starts the perforating device described above. Whenthe rods ,1 move in the direction of F1 (Figs. 1-2), said rods, by amechanical connection system 47a, act on the lever 47 in the directionof the arrow Fc thus opening the contact 45-46 and hence de-energizesthe electro-magnet E1. By the displacement of lever 47, the .pawl 50engages a tooth of the ratchet wheel 52 which is always rotating (slowmovement in the direction of F11) and the lever 47 moves, first slowlyin the direction of Pb, then abrupt- 1y, the pawl 50 moving away fromthe tooth with which it was engaged. This escaping movement may beenhanced, for example, by a pin 56 cooperating with an inclined surface57 provided on the pawl 50. The contact 4546 is restored and if in themeantime the counterweight A has returned to its initial position, the

device is ready to work under theaction of another key according to theinvention thus does not involve any change in the operators habits andat the same time.

allows the repeated perforation corresponding to a required letter.

-It :is obvious that the counterweights -A, in relation :to thecemp i min p ay t a a t tha h y ;have :always played. Thus, independently of theper rforationwmade-on -'a tape'when each key-is depressed,

there corresponds, *as usual, the=release ofa matrix which goestowardsmaking a line, andrthis is achieved when the keyboard is directlymounted on said -composing machine. p --It will be understoo'd that theliabove described comprising machine may have associated with it --asuitable apparatus, called "a counter, for ehecking the line -after th'e'operator has depressed a certain number 0f *keys,

this checking process being known inthexart "as justi fication. Also,the keys of the composing machine, ac-

matically by a suitable mechanism. It will be obvious to those skilledin the art that various changes may be made without departing from thespirit of the invention and therefore the invention is not limited towhat is shown in the drawings and described in the specification butonly as indicated in the appended claims. 7

What I claim is:

1. In a conventional keyboard ofa composing machine, keys mounted onlever arms, counterweightsmovably mounted at the end part of each'leverarm of each key and comprising a plurality of banks at said lever armside and a plurality of notches at the opposite sides, said notchesbeing located differently from one counterweight to the other, aplurality of rods, means mounting said rods for oscillation injuxtaposition with said notches, so that at least one rod can engage inone notch of one counterweight when said counterweight is raised, tworods adapted to oscillate and whichdo not cooperate with said notches, asynchronization electromagnetic device, a source of electric current, apair of electric contacts closed by each of said counterweights when thelatter are raised, a flap,'means movably mounting said flap adjacentsaid rods for engagement and movement thereby, lock means including anelectromagnet for permitting movement of said flap by said rods, saidelectromagnet being connected to said pair of contacts and said sourceof electric current, a spring connected to and urging each rod in thedirection of abutment against said flap, each rod having an articulatedform extending therefrom, a shoulder on each arm, a plurality of segmentgears each having a plurality of rollers extending from a side thereof,means mounting each said gear adjacent one of said arms for engagementof said arm with a roller of said gear uponoscillation of'the rod towhich said arm is attached, ratchet means mounted adjacent each saidgear for engagement with a roller thereof, each said ratchet meanshaving a part engageable by the shoulder on each corresponding armwhereby movement of said arm removes said ratchet means from engagementby one of said rollers, a plurality of continuously rotating toothedwheels, each positioned to engage and' drive one of said segment gearsupon initial rotation thereof by engagement of one of said arms with aroller of said gear, a bar positioned adjacent each said'segmen-t gearfor striking of one end thereof by a roller of each segment gear, punchmeans operatively associated 'with each said bar for punching a tape,means for feeding a tape into juxtaposition with said punch means, andmeans connected with said two rods not cooperating with said notches ofsaid counterweights for actuatingsaid tape feeding means, whereby uponthe depressing of a key a counterweight will be raised, theelectromagnet will be energized, said two rods not cooperating with thenotches of the counterweights will be oscillated, at least one of theother rods will be oscillated and will thereby initially rotate thecorresponding segment gear, a punch means will be actuated to perforatea tape and the tape feeding means will be actuated to feeda tape.

2. In a conventional keyboard of a composing machine, keys mounted onlever arms, counterweights mov ably mounted at the end part of eachlever. arm of each key and comprising a plurality of banks at said leverweight to the other, a plurality of rods, means mounting said rods foroscillation in juxtaposition with said.

notches, so that at least one rod can engage in one notch a of onecounterweight when said counterweight is raised,

two rods adapted .to oscillate and which do not cooperate with saidnotches, a source of electric current, a synchronization electromagneticdevice comprising a first pair of electric contacts closed by each ofsaid counterweights upon raising thereof, an electromagnetic clutchconnected to said source and to said pair of contacts, means forcontinuously rotating the input side of said clutch, a ratchet wheeldrivingly connected with the output side of said clutch, a lever armmounted for oscillation adjacent said ratchet wheel and having meansthereon for engaging with said ratchet wheel to thereby oscillate saidarm' in one direction, a second pair of electric contacts closed byoscillation of said lever arm in said one direction, an electromagnetconnected to said source and said second pair of electric contacts,linkage means-z between said rods and said lever arm for moving said j Ilever arm in the opposite direction upon oscillation of each rod in thedirection of abutment against said flap,

each rod having an articulated arm extending therefrom, a shoulder oneach arm, a plurality of segment gears each having a plurality ofrollers extending from a side thereof, means mounting each said gearadjacent one of said arms for engagement of said arm with a roller ofsaid gear upon oscillation of the rod to which said arm is attached,ratchet means mounted adjacent each said gear for engagement with aroller thereof, each said ratchet means having a part engagea-ble by theshoulder on each corresponding arm whereby movement of said arm removessaid ratchet means from engagement by one of said rollers, a pluralityof continuously rotating toothed wheels, each positioned to engage anddrive one of said segment gears upon initial rotation thereof byengagement of one of said arms with a roller of said gear, a barpositioned adjacent each said segment gear for striking of one endthereof by a roller of each segmen-t gear, punch means operativelyassociated with each said bar for punching a tape, means for feeding atape into juxtaposition with said punch means, and means connected withsaid two rods not cooperating with said notches of said counterweightsfor actuating said tape feeding means, whereby upon the depressing of akey a counterweight will be raised, the electromagnet will be energized,said two rods not cooperating with the notches References Cited in thefile ofthis patent "UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,969,891 Lake et a1. Aug. 14,1934 2,036,139v Hanney Mar. 31, 1936 2,060,838 Thienemanna Nov. 17, 19362,436,126 Tholstrup Feb. 17, 1948 2,492,584 Kogler et a1. Dec. 27, 19492,544,994 Julius Mar. 13, 1951 2,672,231 Goetz Mar. 16, 1954 2,781,975Pudelks et a1. Feb. 19,

